Jeff Harris, 56, of Newport Beach, brother, dearest friend, leader, ally, musician, uncle to many, cohort, wingman and inspiration left us suddenly, Tuesday, March 5, 2013. His smile, wit, loyalty, laugh, intelligence, instinct, talent, passion, artistry and optimism will be with us forever. Jeff had the rare blessing of living his passions and dreams every day. His talent and craftsmanship on the ground and sheer artistry in the air were legendary. The travel bug bit him early, taking him to every corner, and surf spot, on the globe. His passion for flying continued that dream, both as a longtime pilot for American Airlines, and as one of the most talented and prolific private and vintage war bird pilots and restoration experts in the country. Jeff’s insistence on perfection was always apparent, whether in designing and building a masterpiece custom home or restoring and flying historic aircraft. A humble yet very friendly and outgoing lad, “Hareball” could strike up a conversation and hold court with anyone, anywhere. He surely had his opinions on most subjects and was not hesitant to share them. His love for the water drew him to many exotic destinations, and also to his beloved Beacon Bay, where he was a longtime and beloved figure; and where he was building his dream home and future. Jeff often talked about hanging out in his garage/workshop at retirement, holding court and building fine guitars. Whether you knew him a day or a lifetime, he was your friend, mentor and entertainer.

They came back to their hometown on Saturday afternoon to remember the good days when Jonathan "Johnny" Coontz was just another blond-haired Newport kid who had throngs of loyal friends, loved the ocean and surfed like a pro.
Those were the care-free...

Students of the Red Chair School of Performing Arts have been accepted to summer intensive ballet programs across the United States and for the first time, one Red Chair student is going to Russia.
Those accepted are Elizabeth Briggs, Ryan Sinton,...

The Winter Park Police Department announced today that it doubled the reward for information in the case of Stephanie Edwards, who went missing in 2010.
The reward increased to $10,000 in the case that was the subject of this recent column about the scant attention some missing persons receive from the media and law enforcement.
Edwards went missing in May of 2010, but her case didn't make the news for nearly a month. And attention fell off shortly after.
That's a big difference from the attention...

Officials in Port Deposit said Saturday that 30 floodgates remained open at the Conowingo Dam as water steadily receded, though the town remained under its mandatory evacuation.
"It's looking a lot better than yesterday," said Mike Dixon, Cecil County spokesman. "The water is slowly receding, so it appears the worst has passed. But it will take some time for it to clear out."
As Port Deposit and Havre de Grace continued to deal with flooding and debris in the streets Friday, the Conowingo Dam's operator...

Jeff Harris Photos

With mounds of snow making Baltimore sidewalks impassable Saturday, many pedestrians took to the middle of the streets, following paths carved by plows or trucks. And that drove Don Dziwulski a little nuts.
A 12-year-veteran of the Baltimore Fire Department and one of its supervising paramedics, Dziwulski has about all he can handle on a normal day, when calls for assistance - and life-and-death decisions - come thick and fast.
Saturday afternoon, driving an ambulance around the snow-covered city was...